Swab



Oct. 20, 1936. B. E. PARRISH SWAB Filed NOV. 19, V1934 Patented oct. zo, 1936 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE SWAB Benjamin E. Parrish, Dallas, IIex. Application November 19, 1934, Serial No. 753,709

v4 Claims. (Cl. 10S-225) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in swabs.

One object of the invention is toI provide an improved swab for wells which is adapted to be readily positioned on a cable at any point thereon without disconnecting said cable.

An important' object of the invention is to provide an improved well swab having vertical tubular connectors extending therethrough, said connectors not only serving to hold the parts of the swab together, but also providing passages for by-passing fluid when said swab is being lowered into a body of said fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved swab for a well having vertical passages therethrough and also having flap valves at its upper end for closing said passages, the

` valves being mounted in pairs on a single mounting, whereby the cost of manufacture and the labor involved is greatly minimized.

A further object of the invention isv to provide a swab structure which is an improvement over my former patent, No. 1,788,738 issued January 13, 1931, and which is more easily and quickly 4assembled and disassembled, whereby the clamping may be accomplished in much less time than is usually required.

Still another object of the invention is to'provide a swab including semicircular upper and lower members having an elastic swab element therebetween, and also including tubular connectors extending vthrough said element, each connector having onel end secured to. one of the members and the opposite end extending through 35 the other member andreceiving a nut, whereby the parts are held together and the swab element is capable of sliding on said connectors so as to permit expansion when the element is placed under pressure; the nut at the lower end .40 of each connector providing for quick assembling and disassembling of said parts.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

45 The Vinvention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:l

Vi250 Figure 1 is aview, partly in'elevation and part- `ly in section of a swab constructed in accordance with the invention, v

Figure 2 is a plan view, having a portion broken away to show one of the Valve mountings E55 and also 'one of the fastening bolts,

Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the linef3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the upper supporting member.

In the drawing, thenumeral I0 designates a 5 swab which is arranged to be positioned around the usual drilling cable A, and lowered into the casing B of an oil well. The swab includes an upper head II and a lower head I2. An annular flexible body I3 is disposed between the heads and 1z0 the outer face of this body is in constant engagement with the inner wall of the casing B. The heads are fastened together by vertical tubular connectors I4 which extend through the flexible body, as will be hereinafter explained. r15

The upper head II comprises a pair of semicircular plates I5, each of which is provided with an upstanding diametrically extending flange I6. The flange has its outer ends tapering upwardly so as to ride over obstructions, such as collars and joints in the casing B, when the swab is raised therein. Each plate is provided with a semicircular cutout I'I at the center of its inner marginal portion, and when the plates are placed together, the inner faces of the diametrically ex- .25 tending flanges I6 lie against each other, asis shown in Figure 2. The semicireular cutouts I1 Yare in direct opposed relation, whereby a central vertical opening I3 is provided through the head. The drilling cable A passes through this opening, and bolts I9 threaded through registering bolt holes I9 in the flanges, securely fasten the plates together, as well as position thev Yhead around said cable.

A boss 20 is formed on the plate at the central :35 portion ofthe outer margin thereof, being preferably made integral therewith. The boss is provided with a bore 20 and one end of a transverse pin 2| is supported in this bore, while the other end of the pin is mounted in an aperture 22 at 40 the center of the vertical Vflange I6. A cotter key 2I passes through the boss and the pin to retain said pin in position. A reinforcing web 23 extends from the top of the boss 2D to the central portion of the flange I6, being positioned at .45 substantially a right angle vto the longitudinal axis of the latter. The outer edge of the web `is inclined toward the center of the head, simiopening 2'I for the cable. Bolts I9V pass through the flanges 26 to hold the plates 25 together. In the lower head I2, the bosses 20 are eliminated and a reinforcing web 28, similar to the web 23, extends from each plate 25 to the flange 26, preferably being made integral with both plate and fiange.

The flexible, annular body I3 is positioned between the heads I I and I2 and has its upper and lower ends engaged by the flat undersides of the heads. The body is constructed of two semicircular members 29, each having a vertical, semicircular channel 30 at the center of its inner face. When the members are placed together with their inner faces adjacent, the channels register to form a central vertical bore 3l through the body. With the body disposed between the heads, the bore 3| registers with the openings I8 and 21 in the heads II and I2, whereby the cable A may pass downwardly through the swab.

In constructing the device, one of the mem- Y bers 29 of the body is secured between one of the plates'I5 of the head II and one of the plates 25 of the head I2. This divides the swab into two' complete semicircular units which may be readilyY placed around the cable A. Since both units are assembled in the same Way, a description of one will suflice.

The plate I5 is provided with two bosses I5 which are positioned one on each side of the web 23, while the plate 25 is provided with similar bosses 25. These bosses surround openings 32 in the plates and said openings register with elongated openings 33 which extend vertically through the member 29. The tubular connectors I4 extend through the openings 32 and 33 and have their upper ends flared outwardly to securely fasten the same in the bosses I5' of the plate I5. It is pointed out that the upper end of each connector is ush with the top of each boss I5 and this upper end is preferably machined to form a seat for the swinging flap valves 24. Each pin y2I has a pair of valves 24 pivoted thereto and the valves extend outwardy one from each side of said pin as shown in Figure 2, to engage the bosses I5 when in a lowered position.

The lower end of each connector I4 is slidably mounted in and extends beyond the boss 25 and is threaded to receive a nut 34, whereby the plates are connected with the member 29 therebetween.

It is obvious that the two units may readily be placed around the cable A and the bolts I9 inserted to fasten the units together. In positioning the swab, the lower end rests on any of the tools which may be secured to the cable and a clamp C is secured to the cable above the swab to prevent upward displacement of the same. Thus, it will be seen that the swab is incapable of vertical movement. rIhe tubular connectors not only connect the parts of each unit, but also serve as conductors for fluid to permit the bypassing of fluid when the swab is being lowered into the well.

In using the swab, the two semicircular units are positioned around the cable A, as has been explained. The clamp C is then secured above the swab and it is obvious'that the swab is attached to the cable with a minimum amount of time and'labor, and since the device may be positioned at VanyY point on said cable, the removal of any 'drilling tools connected to, or carried by the cable is not necessary. After theswab is positioned on the cable at the desired point, the lowering operation is begun.

As the swab enters the body of fluid, the iiuid passes upwardly through the connectors and raises the iiap valves 24 which are pivoted on the pins 2I. The upward swing of the valves is limited by stop 24 on said valves, striking the webs 23. Thus, the iiuid passes above the swab in the casing as the swab is lowered and so long as the lowering continues the valves remain open.

When the lowering of the swab is stopped and the swab is started upwardly, the weight of the fluid immediately swings the flap valves 24 downwardly onto their respective seats at the upper end of the connectors, thereby preventing downward flow of fluid through said connectors. It is pointed out the upward swing of each valve is limited by the stop 24 striking the web, so that the inclination of the valve when open is such that a pressure from above will immediately close saidrvalve and any danger of swinging the valve past center to a wide open position is eliminated. Since the upper end of the connectors I4 are machined, a fluid tight joint is obtained and it is obvious that during the raising the oil above the swab is lifted. No leakage is had through the connectors and the engagement of the outer face of the body I3 with the casing wall forms a iiuid tight seal at all times. It is pointed out that since only the lower end of the connectors are fastened to the lower head, the upper ends being slidable through the upper head, the pressure above the swab forces the upper head downwardly to expand the packing element. This expansion forces the element outwardly into engagement with the casing wall, whereby a fluid tight seal is affected.

When it is desired to remove the swab from the cable, it is only necessary to loosen the bolts I9 and the semicircular units will drop from the cable. I'he ease of mounting and dismounting the swab is an important feature of the device. The particular arrangement of the connectors permits the same to not only serve as a connecting means between the heads II and I2, but also provides conductors for fluid during the lowering operation, as well as providing a mounting for the packing element which permits expansion thereof when lsubjected to a pressure from above. By positioning the conductors on each side of the web 23, it is possible to pivot both valves 24 of each plate on the single pin 2I. 'I'his provides for a more compact as well as a much simpler device, which greatly reduces the cost of manufacture as well as the labor involved. The valves are positive in action with no danger of them not closing, and when seated on the bosses I5' a perfect fluid seat is maintained.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A split swab including, a pair of upper heads, a pair of lower heads, a split elastic body secured between the hea-ds, tubular connectors extending through the body and heads and having enlargements at each end for securing the upper and lower heads against separation, a single transverse pin mounted on each upper head, a pair of valves pivoted on the single pin and extending oppositely from each other, each valve closing the upper end of a connector, means for securing the two upper heads together, and means for securing the two lower heads together, whereby the split elastic body forms a solid annular packing member.

2. A split swab including, an upper head split diametrically, a lower head split diametrically, a split elastic body having each of its sections secured between one of the upper and lower heads, tubular connectors extending through the heads and body section and having enlargements on its ends for securing the heads against separation, a vertical flange extending upwardly from each section of the upper head, a single transverse pin mounted in each section of the upper head, valves hinged on the single pin for closing the upper end of the connectors, means for securing the flanges of the sections of the upper head together, and means for securing the sections of the lower split head together.

3. A split swab including, a pair of sections, each section comprising a substantially semicircular upper head, a substantially semi-circular lower head, an elongate semi-circular elastic body secured between the heads, tubular connectors extending through the body and heads and haV- ing enlargements on their upper and lower ends for holding the heads against separation to retain the body therebetween, a single radial pin located centrally on `the upper head, valves mounted on the single pin for closing the upper end of the connectors, and means for securing the sections together, whereby an annular packing member is formed by the elastic bodies between the heads.

4. A split swab including, an upper head split diametrically, a lower head split diametrically, a split elastic body having each of its sections secured between one of the upper and lower heads, tubular connectors extending through the heads and body section and having enlargements on its ends for securing the heads against separation, a vertical flange ext-ending upwardly from each section of the upper head, upstanding web extending from the side of each ange and having an opening therein, a single transverse pin fastened in the web and extending across said opening, valves hinged on the single pin for closing the upper end of the connectors, means for securing the flanges of the sections of the upper heads together, and means for securing the sections of the lower heads together.

BENJAMIN E. PARRISH. 

